Gasteiner Bergbahnen Unveil Immersive ‘MONTELUMA’ Attraction as Alpine Tourism Evolves Beyond the Ski Slopes

The Austrian mountain tourism sector is embracing a new era of year-round experiences, and nowhere is that more evident than in Gastein, where Gasteiner Bergbahnen is preparing to launch an ambitious new attraction that blends alpine education, digital technology and immersive storytelling.

Opening in December at the mountain station of the Schlossalmbahn, the new indoor discovery world known as MONTELUMA aims to transform how visitors engage with the mountain environment, creating an attraction that is as appealing on a stormy winter day as it is during the summer hiking season.

A New Type of Mountain Experience

Located within the Schlossalm mountain station, MONTELUMA combines interactive exhibits, educational content, digital installations and immersive technology to explore the alpine ecosystem from an entirely new perspective. Visitors enter a fictional research centre beneath the mountain, where they embark on a journey through the natural world of the Alps.

Designed for families, school groups, day visitors and nature enthusiasts, the attraction is intended to make complex environmental themes engaging and accessible through participation rather than observation.

According to Andreas Innerhofer, board member of Gasteiner Bergbahnen, the goal is to offer visitors a completely new way of understanding the mountain landscape while combining alpine nature and modern technology into a single experience.

Inside the Mountain

The experience begins with a theatrical pre-show that introduces guests to the fictional underground research facility hidden beneath the Schlossalm. From there, visitors move through a series of themed interactive zones exploring wildlife, plants, geology, weather systems and seasonal changes within the alpine environment.

Large touch-projection displays allow visitors to learn about native species including chamois, ibex, marmots and alpine salamanders, while interactive games and projection technology transform scientific information into hands-on experiences.

One section even invites guests to manage snowmaking operations themselves, offering insight into the challenges mountain resorts face in maintaining slope conditions amid changing weather patterns.

Flying Like an Eagle Over Gastein

The centrepiece of the attraction will be a virtual flight experience that carries visitors across the entire Gastein Valley from an eagle's-eye perspective. Through immersive simulation technology, guests will soar above forests, waterfalls, rocky alpine landscapes and snow-covered ski slopes, bringing together entertainment and destination storytelling in a powerful finale.

Benjamin Rogl, also a board member of Gasteiner Bergbahnen, said the attraction demonstrates how diverse a mountain experience can be, combining learning, interaction and emotional engagement while strengthening the Schlossalm's appeal beyond traditional mountain sports.

Part of a Broader Transformation

The opening of MONTELUMA represents the latest step in a wider redevelopment strategy on the Schlossalm. Over the past two years, Gasteiner Bergbahnen has expanded family-oriented facilities, including the mountain restaurant Hirsch & Maus and a new outdoor adventure zone featuring water-play attractions, motor-skills courses, panoramic swings and themed play equipment.

The company reports positive growth across its summer mountain operations and sees the new attraction as an important addition to its four-season tourism strategy. The weather-independent nature of MONTELUMA is particularly significant, providing a reliable attraction regardless of snow conditions or seasonal weather fluctuations.

The Future of Alpine Tourism

Across the Alps, mountain destinations are increasingly investing in immersive attractions that broaden their appeal beyond skiing and hiking. Interactive museums, digital experiences and family-focused attractions are becoming essential tools for attracting new visitor groups and extending guest stays.

With MONTELUMA, Gasteiner Bergbahnen is positioning itself at the forefront of that movement, creating an attraction where environmental education, technology and mountain tourism converge.

When the doors open in December, visitors to the Schlossalm will discover far more than another mountain attraction. They will be stepping into a new vision of how Alpine destinations can tell their stories, bringing the hidden world of the mountains to life through innovation, interaction and imagination.